The Period Of Political Contests

Beginning of the Political Period, 1857

The Missourians had given up hope of conquering Kansas by force. After the close of the period of violence the contest became almost entirely a political struggle between the pro-slavery and the free-state settlers, each side trying to win Kansas by securing control of its government. The next few years were filled with conventions, elections, and political schemes.

Governor Geary Leaves the Territory

The second Territorial Legislature met at Lecompton in the opening days of 1857. Because of Governor Geary's efforts to be just to both sides, the Legislature did everything possible to annoy and harass him. The free-state men rallied to his support, but conditions soon became so intolerable that one night in March, after having been in office about six months, he made a hasty escape from Kansas. Governor Geary had found Kansas in a deplorable condition and left it not greatly improved, but he had attempted to do justice to all. His place was taken by Governor Walker, who arrived in May.

A Proslavery Constitution Prepared, 1857

Up to this time the only attempt to get Kansas admitted as a state was the effort of the free-state men under the Topeka Constitution, but the proslavery people had long been planning to draw up a constitution under which they might secure the admission of Kansas as a slave state. The Territorial Legislature provided for a constitutional convention, which met at Lecompton in September, 1857, and prepared what was called the Lecompton Constitution.

The First Free-state Territorial Legislature

Two important events were to take place in the fall of 1857: the election of a new Territorial Legislature, and the vote on the Lecompton Constitution. When election day came, United States troops were stationed in the different precincts to prevent illegal voting and invasions from Missouri. Under Governor Walker's promise of a fair election, both parties voted for the first time since the fraudulent election in the spring of 1855. The result was a free-state victory, and the first time Kansas was to have a free-state Legislature. This result was not achieved without many protests and threats from the proslavery people, who now became afraid to submit their Lecompton Constitution to a vote, for it was clear that the free-state people were largely in the majority and would defeat it.

Fear to Submit the Lecompton Constitution

After a number of meetings and debates among themselves, the proslavery people decided to get around this difficulty by not submitting the Constitution at all, but by offering instead these two statements to choose between: "The Constitution with slavery," or "The Constitution without slavery."

Each Side Holds an Election

This gave the free-state people no chance to vote against the Constitution as a whole, and of course their indignation was aroused. The election was held in December, 1857. The free-state men refused to vote, and after several meetings and a special session of their new free-state Legislature the free-state people appointed a day in January, 1858, for an election to decide for or against the Constitution. This time the proslavery party refused to vote. Thus each side held an election and carried its point by a big majority.

End of the Lecompton Constitution

No attention was paid to the defeat of the Constitution at the hands of the free-state people, and it was sent to Congress. After a long discussion Congress attached a number of conditions to the Constitution and sent it back to Kansas to be voted on by all the people. Of the 13,000 votes cast at this election, which was held August 2, 1858, more than 11,000 were against it. This ended the second attempt to get Kansas admitted as a state.

The Leavenworth Constitution, 1858

While the Lecompton Constitution was pending in Congress, the free-state people concluded that it was time for them to try their hands at constitution making again. During the winter and spring of 1858 they produced the Leavenworth Constitution, but it was not favorably received by the people of Kansas and was never voted on by either house of Congress.

Trouble in Southeastern Kansas

These events of Territorial history occurred within a small area. With Lawrence as a center, a circle with a radius of thirty miles would include virtually all of them. Another part of Kansas, the southeastern, including what is now Miami, Linn and Bourbon counties, came into prominence at this time and showed that the period of bloodshed was not yet past. The southeastern part of the Territory had been settled largely by proslavery people, but gradually the Northerners began to come in. The proslavery people frequently made raids on them, the free-state settlers retaliated, and southern Kansas was soon in the midst of a guerrilla warfare. The free-state people engaged in this warfare came to be known as Jayhawkers.(1) Their leader was a man named James Montgomery.

The Marais des Cygnes Massacre

These conditions continued until in the spring of 1858. While the Lecompton and Leavenworth constitutions were being considered in the Territory, there occurred in Linn County the Marais des Cygnes massacre, the most shocking and bloody event of the whole Territorial period. A Southerner named (Charles) Hameltonmade up a list of free-state men whom he planned to seize and execute. On May 19, almost two years to the day after the Pottawatomie massacre by John Brown, Hamelton with a gang of Missourians captured eleven of the free-state men, marched them to a near-by gulch, lined them up and fired a volley. Five men were killed, five were wounded, and one remained unharmed. This terrible deed created great excitement, and an unsuccessful attempt was made to capture Hamelton and his men.(2)

Order Restored

Steps were taken to bring about a more settled condition in southeastern Kansas. Though several other outrages took place, none of them was so barbarous as the Marais des Cygnes massacre, and order was gradually restored.

Proslavery and Free-state Names Dropped

During the trouble over the Lecompton Constitution in the closing days of 1857 Governor Walker was compelled to resign, and in the autumn of 1858 Governor Denver, who succeeded him, voluntarily resigned. Although Denver was the fifth Territorial Governor, he was the first one who had not been compelled to give up his office. This was one of the indications that better days were beginning in Kansas. Lawlessness was practically over. The South was no longer hopeful of making Kansas a slave state. The settlers dropped the terms proslavery and free-state, and identified themselves with the National political parties.

The Wyandotte Constitution, 1859

In the summer of the next year, 1859, a fourth constitutional convention was held at Wyandotte. There was less hard feeling now between the two factions, and the members of this convention were from both political parties, Democrat and Republican. It was generally conceded by this time that Kansas was to be a free state, and the new Constitution contained the words, "There shall be no slavery in this State; and no involuntary servitude, except for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." This was called the Wyandotte Constitution, and when it was submitted to the people in the fall a large majority of the votes were cast in favor of it.

Kansas Admitted to the Union, January 29, 1861

But the question was not yet settled, for Congress had to vote on the admission of Kansas under the Wyandotte Constitution. These events took place in the closing days of 1859, only a little more than a year before the beginning of the Civil War. Relations between the North and the South had become strained almost to the breaking point. The Congressmen from the South had given up hope of making Kansas a slave state, but they were certainly not anxious to admit it as a free state, and consequently a year passed before the Wyandotte Constitution of Kansas was acted upon. Finally, in January, 1861, some of the southern states seceded from the Union and their representatives and senators withdrew from Congress, leaving a free-state majority. The bill for the admission of Kansas imder the Wyandotte Constitution was at once called up and passed. The next day it was signed by President Buchanan, and on January 29, 1861, Kansas became a state.

First State Officers

In December, 1859, shortly after the people had voted to adopt the Wyandotte Constitution, they held an election to choose state officers to act whenever Kansas should be admitted to the Union. For Governor they chose Dr. Charles Robinson, who had so faithfully served the free-state cause throughout the long but successful struggle. The first United States senators from Kansas were two other well-known free-state men, James H. Lane and Samuel C. Pomeroy. The Wyandotte Constitution designated Topeka as the temporary capital. An election was held in November, 1861, for the purpose of selecting a permanent capital. Topeka received 7996 votes, Lawrence 5291, and all other places 1184. Thus Topeka became the capital of Kansas.

Summary

The first two and a half years of the Territorial period were spent in the warfare which was practically closed when Governor Geary sent "the 2700" home. The last four months of the two and a half years formed the "period of violence." The next three years were given to the political struggle which ended with the adoption of the Wyandotte Constitution. During the remaining year the people went about their work, while this Constitution was pending in Congress. In 1857, early in the political period, the free-state people succeeded, for the first time, in electing the Legislature. The proslavery people prepared the Lecompton Constitution, but submitted to the people only two statements concerning it. The free-state people refused to vote, but held another election, at which the proslavery people refused to vote. After the Lecompton Constitution was returned from Congress it was voted on by both factions and defeated. In the meantime the free-state people submitted the Leavenworth Constitution, which was defeated. During the last six months of the political period the Wyandotte Constitution was prepared, adopted, and sent to Congress. This was in 1859. More than a year passed before Congress acted on the matter; then, January 29, 1861, Kansas became a state.

References

Spring, Kansas.

Robinson, The Kansas Conflict.

Mrs. Robinson, Kansas —Its Interior and Exterior Life.

Holloway, History of Kansas.

Prentis, History of Kansas, pp. 107-143.

Muzzey, American History, pp. 379-412.

Andreas, History of Kansas, pp. 155-179.

Ingalls, Writings, pp. 443-465.

Historical Collections, vol. vi, p. 365; vol. viil, pp. 331, 443;

vol. X, pp. 169, 216; vol. xi, p. 47; vol. xii, p. 331.

Questions

1. How long was Kansas a territory? Into what periods may this time be divided?

2. Was Lecompton a pro-slavery or a free-state town? Of which faction was the second Legislature? How did the Legislature treat Governor Geary? Who succeeded him?

3. What was the result of the election for a third Territorial Legislature?

4. When and by whom was the Lecompton Constitution made? Why was it not submitted as a whole? What became of it?

5. Give an account of the Leavenworth Constitution.

6. Within about what area did all these events occur? Show this on a map of Kansas.

7. Give an account of the troubles in southeastern Kansas. Who were the Jayhawkers?

8. Give an account of the Marais des Cygnes massacre.

9. What were the conditions in Kansas by the opening of 1859?

10. What was the last constitution made in Kansas? When and by whom was it made?

11. When was Kansas admitted to the Union?

12. Who was the first State Governor?

13. How was the State capital selected?

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1. The origin of the word "Jayhawker" is uncertain, though a number of different accounts have been given of it. In recent years the term has come to be applied to our State and our people, and it is not unusual for a Kansan to be spoken of as a "Jayhawker."